OU softball: Chamberlain, Ricketts sweep national, Big 12 awards

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The Daily Ardmoreite

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Posted Feb. 13, 2013 at 4:00 PM

Posted Feb. 13, 2013 at 4:00 PM

NORMAN

Standout performances by senior pitcher Keilani Ricketts and sophomore infielder Lauren Chamberlain gave the University of Oklahoma softball team a clean sweep of the major national and conference awards, it was announced Monday.

Ricketts was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player of the Week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week by USA Softball and the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, while Chamberlain was crowned as the Big 12 Player of the Week.

It marks the third time Ricketts has been recognized as the NFCA Player of the Week after earning recognition in both 2011 and 2012. She was also named the USA Softball Player of the Week on Feb. 23, 2010 and becomes the first Sooner to win the award more than once.

She has been named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week 12 times throughout her career.

Chamberlain has now been named the Big 12 Player of the Week four times in her career, more than any other player in the league dating back to last season.

As the leadoff hitter in five games last weekend, Chamberlain hit .636 (7-11) with four home runs, 12 runs scored and 12 runs batted in. In addition, she walked six times and was hit by three pitches, giving her a .800 on-base percentage.

Ricketts threw her second no-hitter in as many games on Saturday against Oregon. She has 28 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched this season.